A new retail outlet is adding a psychedelic vibe to one of shrooms in Toronto most popular neighbourhoods. The shop, named Zoomies, offers a variety of mushroom-infused drinks, from the TikTok-famous Psychedelic Water to soothing options like chamomile lavender tea and green tea honey. Despite their high concentration of psilocybin, which is illegal to possess in Canada without a medical prescription, these drinks aren’t likely to cause an intense trip, since only a small amount of the substance is used.

The store’s owner, Stacey, said most of her customers are people who want to try microdosing, which involves taking low doses of hallucinogens (like psilocybin) on a regular basis in order to improve their mood and boost productivity. It’s a trend that has grown in popularity among tech startup employees in Silicon Valley. But in the case of psilocybin, microdosing can also cause negative effects, such as anxiety or nausea.

Magic Mushrooms in Toronto: A New Era of Psychedelic Exploration

Regardless, she doesn’t see herself running out of business anytime soon, as more psilocybin shops are popping up across southwestern Ontario. Unlike cannabis retailers, which have faced harsher scrutiny from police and regulators, magic mushroom stores are operating in a grey area. The city says it has no plans to crack down on them, but the provincial government has been more proactive against them.

The fungi can be found at many locations throughout the city, including at local farmers’ markets and online shroom dispensaries. They can be eaten raw or cooked, sold in capsules, made into a tea, or dried and smoked.